Lighter casing structure



March 19, 1963 J. D. SMITH 3,081,611

LIGHTER CASING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 6, 1960 l/TZ 22 25 '3 210 7a 2753/?4 dynssomub/wrff BY MM,MW

,afro/MEM AUnited States Patent @nice j 3,081,611 Patented Mar. 19, 1953 3,081,611 LIGHTER CASING STRUCTURE lames Donald Smith, Stroudsburg, Pa., assiguor to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, NJ., a corporation of New `lersey Filed Jan. 6, 196B, Ser. No. 785 4 Claims. (Cl. 677.1)

In one of its aspects the invention relates to a cigar lighter casing which serves as the main support for the working, parts of the lighter and also acts as a confining wall for the fuel contained in the lighter, the primary objective being a structure satisfactory for such purposes which will enable the same to be constructed of extruded aluminum without entailing parts which would render unduly diiiicult the production of the casing by known impact extrusion techinque. In this aspect the invention has particular advantage as applied to lighters of the butane type wherein the wall structure surrounding the fuel chamber should be of high strength because of the radically higher internal uid pressures entailed in lighters fueled by butane gas and the like as compared to lighters fueled by so called lighter fluid in liquid form. This requirement of high strength has heretofore led in lighters of the butane type, to the use of casings of objectionably heavy weight. A casing constructed in accordance with the present invention, due to the superior strength Vs. weigh-t characteristics of extruded aluminum as compared to lighter casings previously used for such purposes, enables a marked reduction in weight to be secured while still maintaining adequate strength in the surrounding wall of Ithe fuel chamber when charged with a normal amount of fuel of the butane type even when the lighter is subjected to tropical temperature conditions. A reduction in weight may be thereby readily obtained, amounting lto about l/s in comparison with lighter casing structures previously used for the reception of fuels of the butane type, which is especially advantageous in pocket lighters. Also the cost of the casing structure is substantially reduced, on the same basis of comparison. Such a casing constructed of extruded aluminum is also advantageous in lighters irrespective of the type of fuel employed, in that the material is compatible with so called anodizin g treatments, in contrast for example with die-cast lighter casings as heretofore uesd. This enables desirable finished surface effects to be obtained by such anodizng treatment which are not possible, for example, with diecast lighter casings as heretofore used. Such die-cast lighter casngs also have not had sufficient strength to serve satisfactorily under the fluid pressures obtaining in lighters of the butane type. Accessory elements, as hereinafter described more in detail, for mounting the working parts of the lighter on the casing, may be provided as unitary integral parts of the main casing, incidental to the formation of the casing by impact extrusion, also without rendering the operation unduly difiicult.

In another aspect the invention involves a windshield structure used as a protection for the flame of the lighter, which is adapted in construction for use in connection with a lighter casing of the type above referred to, this windshield structure having advantages in respect to the effective admixture of air with the'` gases to be ignited when the lighter is actuated, to promote reliable ignition. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part referred to in the description hereinafter contained which taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred form of lighter casing constructed to function in accordance with the invention; the disclosure however should be considered as merely illustrative of the invention in its broader aspects. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a central vertical sectional view taken through a preferred form of lighter casing constructed in accordance with the invention, the casing being shown prior to the assembly therewith of the various operating parts constituting the complete lighter, and with its accompanying bottom wall plate shown separately.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation with certain parts cut away, showing the lighter casing of FIG. l in assembled relation with various working parts of a complete lighter.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the lighter casing in its initial as extruded condition.

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, but with the closure cap, sparking wheel, and fingerpiece of the lighter removed.

The invention is shown as applied to a lighter having a main casing provided with a top wall 1 from the peripheral portions of which an enclosing side wall 2 depends. From the top Wall 1 a pair of spaced ears 3 extend upwardly to constitute a support for a sparking wheel and certain other working parts of the lighter as hereinafter described in greater detail. Also a ange 4 preferably extends upwardly from top wall 1 to serve as a tingerpiece guard as later set forth in more detail. Preferably `the flange 4 merges at its extremities into the side of the ears 3, both of the above parts being in the nature of upward extensions of the side wall 2, as shown in FIG. 2. The top wall 1 of the casing may also be provided with a post 5 which .extends down into the interior of the casing and also preferably projects somewhat above the top wall.

The above described casing and appurtenant parts constitute a structure which may be satisfactorily formed as a unitary product by a single operation comprising the cold impact extrusion of aluminum, an aluminum base alloy relatively high in tensile strength being preferably employed for reasons already stated, the parts entering into the casing structure being of a configuration and so correlated that special techniques in connection with the'extrusion are not required.

FIG. 3 shows the casing structure in its initial as extruded condition, the side wall Z having an extended annular lip 2 a which is cut off as indicated by the dotted line 2b (FIG. 3). Then as indicated in FIG. 1, the Vtop wall 1 of the casing is tapped out to provide a threaded hole 6 for the reception of a burner valve structure, and a further threaded hole 7 for the reception of a flint tube, the ears 3 being provided with holes 7a to receive a'stud 21 which carries the sparking wheel of the lighter, and the post 5 being bored out as shown in FIG. l to receive the plunger of the tingerpiece of the lighter.

The space within the casing serves as a fluid tight fuel chamber 8, the bottom of which is closed by a bottom wall member 9 which also is preferably constructed of extruded aluminum or aluminum `base alloy. This bottom wall member 9 is shown as provided with a peripheral flange 10 (FIG. l) which seats against the rim at the bottom of side wall 2, the annular side wall 11 of member 9 tting closely within the bottom portion of side wall 2, and the joint between the members 2 and 9 being preferaoly sealed by a synthetic resin of the heat-setting type. The bottom wall member 9 may be provided with a threaded hole 12 for the reception of a fuel charging valve, and a further opening 13 for the reception of a flint tube.

In FIG. 2 a fuel charging valve 14 is shown as mounted in the threaded hole 12, and this valve may be understood as of a type appropriate for injecting butane or like fuel into chamber S. Since valves appropriate for such purposes are known in the art, the valve 14 will not 

2. A PYROPHORIC LIGHTER HAVING A UNITARY FUEL CASING CONSTRUCTED OF A SINGLE PIECE OF EXTRUDED ALUMINUM FORMED BY AN IMPACT EXTRUSION OPERATION, SAID CASING COMPRISING A TOP WALL AND AN ENCLOSING SIDE WALL FORMED INTEGRALLY THEREWITH AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF SAID TOP WALL, A SEPARATE BOTTOM WALL MEMBER GLUED TO THE BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID SIDE WALL TO PROVIDE A SEALED FUEL CHAMBER WITHIN SAID CASING STRUCTURE, SPACED EARS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID TOP WALL TO CONSTITUTE SPARKING WHEEL SUPPORTING MEMBERS, AND A POST EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TOP WALL WITHIN SAID CASING TO CONSTITUTE A FINGERPIECE SUPPORT, SAID EARS AND POST BEING FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID CASING. 